Lawyer raises hackles over emblem

Muscat: An Indian lawyer in Oman has taken it upon himself to challenge the alleged insult to the Indian national emblem — the Ashoka Chakra (Ashoka's wheel).

Lalachen has written to Indian Ambassador J. S. Mukul to intervene and take appropriate steps to end use of the national emblem as well as national flag colours by a business enterprise which, he alleged, was owned by an Indian.

"It has been four days since I have complained to the new Indian ambassador in writing but there has been no reply even to acknowledge that they have received my complaint," Lalachen told Gulf News.

He added that he had taken up the issue with the previous ambassador, Anil Wadhwa, but no action was taken and the business enterprise continues to use the emblem in their newspaper advertisements, hoardings and other printed materials.

"Even when I wrote to the previous ambassador there was no response," he said.

Lalachen said that in case the embassy failed to take any action, he will have no choice but to move a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court of India to protect the national symbol.

He pointed out that according to Section (3) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, it is prohibited to use the emblems specified in the Schedule of the Act Article (16) of the Act for any business or professional purposes without the prior approval of the Central Government of India.

Lalachen stressed that the matter was more serious since the business entity in Oman is owned by an Indian. "This is an insult not only to the Indians in Oman, but to the whole country and the millions of Indians residing in India and abroad," says the lawyer, who has lived in Oman for over two decades.

"As an Indian who takes pride in his nationality and the national symbols, I feel I am duty-bound to take up this issue," he said and hoped that the ambassador would initiate immediate remedial steps.

There was no response from the Indian embassy when Gulf News tried to contact the mission.